1
as in wreckage
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
found the wreck of the ship lying on the floor of the ocean
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in collision
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact
a dangerous stretch of roadway that has been the scene of numerous car wrecks
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wreck
Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
The snorkelers and divers in your group can check out the wreck (usually marked with buoys in summer), though taking artifacts from this historic site is forbidden.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
If Yankee Stadium was the house that Babe Ruth built, Coors is the house that Ohtani wrecked.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Noun
The researchers did not have archaeological documentation of most of the wrecks before the project.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
The snorkelers and divers in your group can check out the wreck (usually marked with buoys in summer), though taking artifacts from this historic site is forbidden.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
If Yankee Stadium was the house that Babe Ruth built, Coors is the house that Ohtani wrecked.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
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Photos from the wreckage show, among other pages from the emergency manual, instructions for a water landing lying loose at the crash site.—
James Glanz,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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One option is the wreckage of the second Death Star.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
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At least, there was a lot less wrecking.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Based on current findings, there is no indication of a mid-air collision.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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Hauser came up limping after a midair collision with Embiid on the final play of the first quarter.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Mounting tensions between the US and Iran scuttled a second round of peace talks that were set to happen in Pakistan over the weekend.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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Yet sentiments like Brock’s are being repeated across California and the US, where hostility to battery farms has scuttled projects as residents and local officials sue to overturn government approvals or enact ordinances to ban the facilities or restrict where they can be built.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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Apparently, staff learned to wash their hands, but the roaches returned to ruin another inspector’s visit.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Use a drain catcher to stop hair and debris from accumulating.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Downed trees and debris at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in July.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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William Cruz, 49, of Carteret, NJ, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian causing injury and failure to exercise due care for the fatal crash that claimed Jenny Maribel Chacho Sanchez on April 17.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The corridor, from Del Paso Boulevard to the Steelhead Creek trail crossing, is among the five in Sacramento with the highest numbers of fatal and serious crashes.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 1543 several Portuguese were shipwrecked on the island of Tanega, off southern Kyushu.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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This reimagining of the classic tale of the white European male shipwrecked on a desert island is brave, funny, wild and spellbinding.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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